Lateral expandable shoe form



Feb. 13, 1962 A. H. FISHMAN LATERAL EXPANDABLE SHOE FORM Filed Jan. 51, 1961 IN V EN TOR. 441w x/nmr ns/mm g m-M United States Patent poration of New York Filed Jan. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 86,130 2 Claims. (Ci. 12--116.8)

This invention relates to shoe trees and more particularly to such trees for filling and expanding the toe and forward portions of womens shoes when not in use in order to retain the shapes thereof.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shoe tree of resilient or expandable material for insertion in the toe and vamp portions of shoes of varying sizes and styles to press against the interior surfaces of the shoes in order to retain the shapes thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a shoe tree which is formed from a single piece of a compressible resilient plastic material by a single molding operation, and which tree is'simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Additional objects and advantages of this invent-ion will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

The one-piece molded shoe tree of the present invention comprises a body of a compressible resilient plastic material including a front edge portion defined by a curved surface concentric about the longitudinal axis of the tree and extending the greater part of a circle, a rear edge portion defined by an elliptical surface disposed symmetrically about the axis and extending parallel to the front edge portion, and an intermediate surface integral with and extending between the front and rear edge portions of frustoconical shape tapering outward from the front edge portion to the rear edge portion, which intermediate surface terminates in a pair of base edges, which, when the shoe tree is in the relaxed state, taper outwardly from the front edge portion to the rear edge portion, the base edges being normally spaced from one another and being adapted to be moved together in overlapping relation to one another when tension is applied to the shoe tree, as when it is compressed by the hand of the user to facilitate its insertion in the toe and forward portions of the shoe.

One embodiment of the shoe tree of this invention is shown in the attached drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shoe tree -ac cording to the invention inserted within a womans shoe;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the shoe tree from the forward end thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is a central longitudinal section taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

In the drawing, a womans shoe, designated generally at it), is shown having a shoe tree 12 inserted within the forward portion 14 thereof. The shoe tree 12 comprises a one-piece integral molded body formed from a compressible resilient plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or other suitable plastic.

The shoe tree 12 is formed by molding, desirably in a single operation so that it is inexpensive to make. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the one-piece molded tree is, in the relaxed state, symmetrical about its longitudinal axis 16, extending lengthwise of the shoe tree and of the shoe in which it is adapted to be inserted. The shoe tree has a front edge 18 of curved shape concentric about axis 16, which edge extends the greater part of a circle, e.g. about 270, and terminates at opposed spaced points 20 and 22 to define one end of a base separating space 24. A rear edge 26, also curved symmetrically about the axis 16, is parallel to the front edge 18. The rear edge 26 is generally elliptical in shape and terminates at a pair of spaced points 28 and 30, defining the rear of the base separating space 24. In the relaxed state shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the distance between vthe points 28 and 30 is greater than between 20 and The front edge 18 and rear edge 26 of the shoe tree are joined by an integral intermediate surface 32 of frustoconical shape tapering outwardly from the front edge to the rear edge. The base of surface 32 terminates at edges 34 and 36 defining the sides of base separating space 24. These edges 34 and 36 taper outwardly from points 20 and 22 toward the terminal points 28 and 30 of the rear edge 26.

An upstanding member or tab38 is integral with the rear edge 26. This tab assists in inserting the shoe tree 12 into shoe 10 and in withdrawing the shoe tree from the shoe. The tab is provided with an aperture 40 through which the shoe tree, or the shoe having the shoe tree inserted therein, may be supported, as by a hook or other hanger within a wardrobe closet or elsewhere.

If desired, the intermediate surface 32 of the shoe tree may be provided with suitable decoration or indicia such as indicated by the lines 42. Moreover, if desired the plastic material from which the shoe tree is molded may be colored or otherwise decorated to provide an attractive appearance harmonizing with the shoes or dressing room furnishings.

A specific embodiment of the shoe tree of the invention, substantially as shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, is approximately 2 /2 inches in length along the axis 16, has a front edge 18 with a radius of about inch, and has points 20 and 22 separated by about /2 inch. Rear edge 26 has a major axis about 4.3 inches in length and a minor axis about 3 inches in length and points 28 and 30 are separated by about 1.8 inches.

Before insert-ion of the shoe tree 12 into the shoe 10, as shown in FIGURE 1, the interior walls of the shoe tree may be compressed so that the edges 34, and 36, abut or overlap, facilitating entry of the tree into the shoe. This may be accomplished by inserting end 18 into the vamp of the shoe and pressing the tree toward the toe of the shoe. When thus inserted, the frustoconical surface 32 is placed under compression and bears against the inside walls of the shoes forcing them outwardly to retain their desired shape.

The shoe tree may be inserted varying distances into the toe and front portions of the shoe as desired, depending upon the particular size and style of the shoe.

The present invention thus provides a one-piece molded shoe tree of resilient material which can be conveniently inserted in the toe and forward portions of shoes of varying sizes and styles, and which can be manufactured simply and inexpensively.

Since various changes can be made in the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece molded shoe tree for expanding the toe and forward portions of a shoe, comprising a body of a compressible resilient plastic material including a front edge portion defined by a curved surface concentric about the longitudinal axis of said tree and extending the greater part of a circle, a rear edge portion defined by an elliptical surface disposed symmetrically about said axis and extending parallel to said front edge portion, and an intermediate surface integral with and extending between said front and rear edge portions of frustocon- Patented Feb. 13, 1962 ical shape tapering outward from said front edge portion to said rear edge portion, said intermediate surface terminating in a pair of base edges tapering outward from the terminal ends of said front edge portion to the terminal ends of said rear edge portion, said base edges being normally spaced from one another and being adapted to be moved toward one another to facilitate insertion of said tree into a shoe 2. A one-piece molded shoe tree for expanding the toe and forward portions of a shoe comprising a body of a compressible resilient plastic material, said body including a front edge portion defined by a curved surface concentric about the longitudinal axis of said tree and extending the greater part of a circle, a rear edge portion defined by an elliptical surface disposed symmetrically about said axis and extending parallel to said front edge portion, an intermediate surface integral with and extending between said front and rear edge portions of frustoconical shape tapering outward from said front member integral with and in substantially the same plane as said rear edge portion, said upstanding member assisting 1n inserting said tree in, and withdrawing said tree from, a shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,401,632 Mouat Dec. 27, 192i FOREIGN PATENTS 507 Great Britain Ian. 10, 1893 

